Winemaker Jonathan Nagy

It’s not surprising that a winemaker with deep roots in Santa Barbara County wine country would be driven to make wines so deeply rooted in its most distinctive vineyards.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara County, Jonathan grew up in the region now regarded among California’s top places for cool-climate wines. He joined Byron Winery in 2001, working with winery founder, and pioneering Santa Barbara vintner, Ken Byron Brown. The two bonded quickly over their fascination with Pinot Noir’s ability to express singularity of site and their shared commitment to bringing critical focus to Santa Barbara wines.

Today, Jonathan is focused on Byron’s original charter to make site-expressive wines that underscore the distinct signatures of Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley. He sources grapes by row and block from Byron’s storied estate vineyard as well as other top sites.

“Our single vineyard approach guides my desire to express the character of the grape as it responds to a particular site,” explains Jonathan.
“It’s fascinating how Pinots can showcase such different personalities from vineyard to vineyard, or even block to block.”

Winemaker Jonathan Nagy

It’s not surprising that a winemaker with deep roots in Santa Barbara County wine country would be driven to make wines so deeply rooted in its most distinctive vineyards.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara County, Jonathan grew up in the region now regarded among California’s top places for cool-climate wines. He joined Byron Winery in 2001, working with winery founder, and pioneering Santa Barbara vintner, Ken Byron Brown. The two bonded quickly over their fascination with Pinot Noir’s ability to express singularity of site and their shared commitment to bringing critical focus to Santa Barbara wines.

Today, Jonathan is focused on Byron’s original charter to make site-expressive wines that underscore the distinct signatures of Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley. He sources grapes by row and block from Byron’s storied estate vineyard as well as other top sites.

“Our single vineyard approach guides my desire to express the character of the grape as it responds to a particular site,” explains Jonathan.
“It’s fascinating how Pinots can showcase such different personalities from vineyard to vineyard, or even block to block.”